Carry bag handle construction



May 25, 1954 A. SOFFA CARRY BAG HANDLE CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 7, 1950 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR. A L BERT SOFFA FIG l.

ATTORNEYS.

May 25, 1954 A. SOFFA CARRY BAG HANDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 7, 1950 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 in M b. a f r H I 9 J 4 m s w 1 w 5 3 5=dwvv 3: :w z

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i: l l I I l I I l l l l I l I l l L I l I I l FIG, 6.

INVENTOR. A L BERT SOFFA ATTORNEYS.

y 5, 1954 A. soFFA CARRY BAG HANDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 7, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 8.

INVENTOR.

ALBERT SOFFA ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 25, 1954 CARRY BAG HANDLE CONSTRUCTION Albert Soffa, Philadelphia, .Pa;., assignor to Wolf Brothers, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporationof Pennsylvania Application March 7, 1950, Serial No. 148,052

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in paper bags and more particularly to an improvement in the handle construction of paper bags of the type generally known as a carry bag.

This invention comprises an improvement in the handle structure of the type of bag shown in the Patents No. 2,172,555 and No. 2,364,386 issued to Howard A. Wolf andlto an improvement in the handle structure of the type of bag .disclosed in my co-pending patent application, Serial No. 143,051 filed March '7, 1950.

It is an object of this invention to provide an edge adjacent to the top of the handle aperture which has .a flat surface after the handle structure has been formed into position for carrying the bag and is more comfortable to the feel of one carrying the :bag.

It is .a further object of the present invention to provide a reenforcing flap across the top of the handle aperture which is automatically folded into proper position when the handle structure is formed into carrying position.

It is a further object of this invention to pro videreenforcing for the strip between the handle aperture and the open end of the bag increasing the strength of the strip before the bag handle structure is formed into carrying position, which will provide recnforcing of the bag handle after the bag handle is formed into carrying position and which will not complicate the mode of forming the handle into carrying position or in any way prevent the operation of forming the handle into carrying position from being completely self-suggestive with no special instructions to the user.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a paper bag handle which will absorb some of the energy of impact imparted to the handle through dynamic loading of the paper bag.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partially cut-away back view of one form of the carry bag constructed in accordance with the present invention showing the bag closing flap in open position;

Figure 2. is a partially cut-awayenlargedba-ck view of a bag of the form shownin Figure 1 showing the handle area with the handle structure partially formed into carrying position;

Figure 3 is a partially cut-away enlarged front view of a bag of the formshown in Figure 1 showingthe handle area with the handle structure completely formed into carrying position;

Figure 4 is a view showing a section through the handle structure taken on the plane indicated by the trace 4-4 in Figure 3.;

Figure .5 is an enlarged back view showing the handle area of a bag embodying an alternate form of the present invention and showing the bag closing flap in an open position;

Figure 6 is a partially cut-away enlarged front view showing the handle area of a bag .of the type shown in Figure 5 and showing the handle formed into carrying position;

Figure '7 is an enlarged back view showing the handle area of a bag embodying another alternate form of the present invention and showing the bag closing flap in an open position; and

Figure 8 is a partially cut-away front view showing the form of the invention shown in Figure '7 and showing the handle structure formed into carrying position.

In Figure 1 there is shown a bag comprising a .rea-r wall l, a front wall 2, side flaps 3 and a closing flap 4. The side fia-ps .3 are extensions of the front wall 2 which are turned inwardly and are secured with adhesive or other suitable means to the inside of the back wall I of the bag.

In this figure the front and back walls. of the bag are shown as one continuous piece of material folded across the .-bottom of the bag to form.

the front wall 2 and the back wall I using the side seam construction. It will be obvious, however, that the present invention may be incorporated in bags having a single seam disposed .at the rear of the bag, and a transverse seam along the bottom of the bag .or other suitable form ;of construction wherein a suitable closing flap is provided to be folded down over :the open .end of the bag as will be hereinafter described. Attached to the inside of the back wall I of the bag by adhesive or other suitable means is the reenforcing patch 5 and attached to the inside of the closing flap 4 and extending downwardly and attached to the inside of the front wall 2 by adhesive or other suitable means is the reenforcing patch 5 which lies in a position on the front wall .2 superimposed underneath the reenforcing patch ion the back wall 5. The top of the back wall l adjacent to the bag opening is cut with inclined form providing a downward peak 9. The depressed portion of the top edge of the :back wall in the region of the reenforcing patches .cooperates with the handle flap as will be hereinafter described.

The handle structure of the carry bag includes the finger cut-outs :l which are cut through the rear and-frontwa'lls l and'2 of the bag andtheir reenforcing patches 5 and 6, and a locking tongue 8 which is formed in the closing flap 4 by the cut lines 10 and is adapted to be folded downwardly and passed through the cut-outs 1, as will be hereinafter described. The cut lines it provide at either end of the locking tongue the ears H. The upper edge of the handle cut-out I in the back bag wall I is provided with flaps l2 and i2 and the upper edge of the handle cut-out in the front bag wall is provided with the flaps l3 and I3. The flaps I2 and i2 are disposed longitudinally at an angle with respect to each other and the flaps l3 and 13 are similarly disposed with respect to each other. The cut-outs 1, the flaps l2 and I3 and the flaps l2 and [3 each lie in superimposed positions as viewed in Figure 1.

Th bag may be formed of paper or other material suitable for the formation of a carry bag and the reenforcing patches 5 and 6 may be made of paper or other suitable reenforcing material being somewhat more stiif than the material forming the bag itself.

Heavy score lines 16 and I! are provided at the root of the tongue between the cuts l6. Heavy score lines l9 and 20 are provided in the area where the flap 4 joins the front Wall 2 of the bag across the width of the reenforcing patch 6. Heavy score lines 2 l, 22 and 23 are provided along the length of the flaps l3 and I3 and heavy score line 24 is provided along the length of the flaps I2 and 12. A light score line 25 is provided across the width of the bag between the heavy score lines [9 and 20, and a plurality of light score lines 26 are provided between the heavy score line I! at the root of the tongue and the heavy score line l9 across the width of the patch 6. v

In use the bag will generally be opened by the user grasping the central portion of the closing flap 4 in the region of the reenforcing patch 6 and the strip of material 28 in the back of the bag lying between the back cut-out I and the upper edge of the back of the bag. The user will draw these two portions of the bag apart thereby opening the bag to permit insertion of an article therein. In performing this operation the user will, in passing his fingers through the cut-out opening 1, bend the flaps l2 and I2 at an angle to the strip 28 thereby providing a stiffening or reenforcement which serves to strengthen the strip 28 and reduce the possibility of tearing or deforming the strip 28 while the bag is being filled. It has further been found that the yielding action of the strip has the psychological effect of warning the user of the relative weakness of the strip 28 when held in this position. Thus, the flaps l2 and I2 serve in various ways to accomplish what amounts to, in effect, greatly increasing the strength of the strip 28.

After articles have been placed in the bag, the user will, without any instructions being necessary, immediately determine by viewing the bag that to' form the handle of the bag the flap 4 must b folded down over the back i of the bag into position, as shown in Figure 2. The light score line 25 across the width of the bag and the heavy score lines I!) and 20 across the width of the reenforcing patch 6 will facilitate this folding. It should be noted that the major amount of bending will take place on the two heavy score lines l9 and 20 and a lesser amount of bending will take place on the light score line 25. Thus there is provided a substantially fiat top portion for the bag which will tend to stiffen the handle structure, as will be hereinafter described more lib fully and at the same time sharp bends which might tend to crack or break the bag material are avoided.

The next step in forming the handle structure is to press the tongue portion 8 through the aligned cut-outs l and fold the tongue upwardly against the front wall of the bag providing the completely formed handle, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. When the handle has been formed into this carrying position, the flaps l2, l2, I3 and I3 will be bent over as shown in Figure 4 on their respective heavy score lines 2| and 24. The flap i2 being the inner flap, it is necessary that it be bent about a sharper radius than the flap 13. This bending is facilitated by the additional heavy score lines 22 and 23. Scor lines 22 and 23 also reduce the sharpness of the bend occurring on the score line 2| and thus reduce the tendency of cracking therealong. Score lines 16 and l! at the root of the tongue form between them the reenforcing strip l8 which is arranged to be at least as wide as the folded flaps l2 and I3 which, after the handle is formed, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, are disposed between the tongue which now lies on the front of the bag and the closing flap which now lies on the back of the bag.

It will be observed from viewing Figures 3 and 4 that the ears H of the tongue 8 spring downwardly toward th bottom of the bag after the tongue is passed through the cut-outs 1 and formed upwardly into carrying positions thus serving to lock the tongue in its folded position. The flaps l2 and I3 serve as expansible members exerting a force against the tongue 8 and tend to hold the strip 18 in position, and the tongue 8 is kept from turning downwardly and passing back through the cut-outs I as a result of this force by the locking action of the ears II which bear against the front wall of the bag.

The score lines 26 across the width of the front reenforcing patch between the tongue and the score line l9 create in the closing flap 4 a slightly rounded contour, as shown in Figure 4, when the bag handle structure is formed into carrying position.

When the bag structure is formed in the manner indicated the resulting carrying handle structure, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, provides a handle structure having the following features of note. At the top of the cut-outs I, the portion of the handle engaging the users hand presents to the user a flat surface l8 which has, because of its fiat formation, suflicient resistance to maintain the top of the bag in a fiat position while being carried. It will be noted that the surface [8 is substantially flat and lies in a plane perpendicular to the bag panel surfaces. The flaps l2, l2, l3 and [3 while not in engagement with the surface 18 for their entire length still, to a considerable degree, lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to the bag panels. These flaps and the flat portion of the flap lying across the top of the bag between the score lines I9 and 26 impart stiffness to the handle area which tends to resist transverse bending of the handle in the region held by the user.

Further contributing to the users comfort is the fact that the handle has a rounded feeling as a result of the effect of the tongue on the front of the bag when it is bent up from the cut-outs and the rounded contour on the back of the handle as produced by the score lines 26, as hasv been hereinbefore described in connection with Figure 4.

It should be particularly noted that after the handle is formed into carrying position the flat portion of the closing flap lying between the score lines 19 and 20 is not in engagement with the upper edge of the back bag panel, particularly, in the central region 9 of the back edge. It is also of importance to note that the flaps l2 and i2 and the flaps I3 and 23 when bent at right angles to their associated bag panels present what is, in effect, an arched surface to the fiat surface l8 provided by the formation of the tongue as hereinbefore described. Thus, it will be obvious that when the bag handle is grasped by the user there will exist a certain flexibility or yielding relation between the portion of the handle in contact with the users hand and the front and back bag panels. This yielding relation provides for the absorption of energy imparted to the handle through dynamic loading of the bag and there is thus provided greatly increased ability of the bag to withstand the loadings existing during use thereof.

An alternate form of this invention is shown in Figures 5 and 6 wherein a bag has a back wall 40, a front wall 42, a closing flap 44, a reenforcing patch 46 attached to the inside of the back wall and a reenforcing patch 48 attached to the inside of the closing flap and the front wall. The bag is provided with cut-outs 49 and a tongue 59 defined by cutlines 5|.

In this form of the invention there is provided adjacent to the top edge of the cut-outs 49 the flaps 52 and 53 defined by the score lines and 4'! on the front and back bag walls, respectively. The flaps 52 and 53 are of substantially diamond or oval shape. The bag closing flap 44 is provided With a fiat area 5.4 defined by the score lines 43 between the tongue 50 and the portion adjacent to the top of the bag which is formed identically with the area I 8 as defined in connection with Figures 1-4. The flap 52 is provided with the additional score line 55. When the bag flap 44, which is in an open position, as shown in Figure 5, is folded down over the back of the bag and the tongue 50 is pressed through the cut-out 49 and bent upwardly on the front of the bag forming the handle structure, as shown in Figure 6, the portion 54 will lie fiat against the users hand and the flaps 52 and 53 will lie substantially in alignment with each other. They will, however, upon being bent perpendicularly to their associated bag panels form an arch somewhat similar to that formed by the flaps I2, l2, l3 and I3 hereinbefore described in connection with Figures 1-4, and

there will thus be provided an arched space between the fiaps 52 and 53 and the fiat portion 54 of the folded tongue. The portion of the reenforcing patch 48 forming the top of the bag is provided with heavy score lines 56 and 58 and the light score line 6!. The reenforcing patch 48 is also provided with light score lines 62 similar to those provided in the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

When the handle of the form shown in Figures 5 and 6 has been formed in position, a section therethrough, will have substantially the same appearance of that shown in Figure 4. The primary advantage of this form of the invention is that the flaps 52 and 53 forming the crowned or arched surface above the flat portion 54 of the tongue are continuous across the width of the tongue. This is particularly advantageous before the handle structure is formed while the user has drawn the front and back panels of the bag tion of the bag above the cut-out I0 is provided.

with the pair of oval or diamond-shaped flaps H and H and the back portion of the bag above the cut-out '10 is provided with a pair of similarly formed flaps 72 and 12. The bag closing flap area lying between the tongue 14 and the portion of the bag flap i5 between the tongue and.

top of the bag is provided with score lines forming the flat area 76 which is identical to the flat area I8 shown in Figure 1. In this modification of the invention, however, the flaps H and 12. form an arch and the flaps H and 12 form a second arch. Thus, two arches are provided to establish resilient cooperation with the flat area 76 of the formed tongue. It will be noted that the flaps l2 and 12 being the inside flaps when formed are provided with the additional score lines 13 to provide for the degree of bending which they undergo when the handle is formed into carrying position.

It will be observed that the modifications shown in Figures 5 and 6 and the modifications shown in Figures 7 and 8 relate essentially to the formation of the arch or arches above the flat portion of the handle engaging the users hand within the hand hole cut-outs and are illustrative of the fact that a great variety of shapes of flaps may be provided without departing from the invention as disclosed herein.

It will be apparent that a variety of modifications may be made in the embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention claimed. Either the front or the back bag panel may be extended to form the bag closing flap and the fiap may extend either part or all the way over the top of the bag. While reenforcing pads have been shown in the handle region as providing the most desirable bag structure, it will be apparent that if the entire bag is made from material having sufficient stiffness, these reenforcing pads are omitted and the score lines which now extend for the width of the reenforcing pads will preferably be extended across the greater portion of, or the total width of, the bag.

It will be apparent that various modifications may be made in the form and location of the finger openings to provide for the insertion of the users fingers.

There is disclosed herein as the preferable arrangement the use of a flap or flaps extending into the cut-outs from both bag panels. However, if desired a fiap or flaps may be extended from one panel only and arranged to bend and engage the edge forming the top cut edge of the cut-out in the other panel, or the cut out may be provided with no flaps at all in which case the tongue member will cooperate with the upper edges of both finger openings. It would not be beyond the scope of the invention disclosed herein to provide a bag having superimposed finger openings and only one enlarged flap or tongue extending downwardly from the top edge of one finger opening and which is folded through the other finger opening in partialh spaced relation with the upper edge thereof, thus providing a yieldable relation between the portion of the tongue supported by the users fingers within said finger opening and the upper edge of the other finger opening.

There is also disclosed herein'as a preferable arrangement the use of straight bends in the region of the tongue member lying within the finger openings and a generally arcuate formation of the bend lines of the flaps which extend downwardly into the finger openings. However, it will be apparent that the flaps could be made to lie in a straight line transversely of the bag and the bend lines in the tongue could be such as to produce a convex or downward bend of the portion of the tongue lying within the finger openings. Jhus, the spaced relation between the portion of the tongue lying between the finger openings and the flaps could be produced by the arcuate formation of the tongue as well as by an arcuate formation of the flaps.

What is claimed is:

1. A carry bag comprising front and back panels separated at their upper ends to form an opening for the bag, finger openings in said front and back panels, a closure member extending upwardly from one of said panels and adapted to be folded down over the other of said panels closing said bag opening, and a tongue member formed integral with said closure member, hinged thereto along a straight weakened bend line and adapted to be folded through said finger openings after said closure member is folded down, said tongue member having an additional bend line extending parallel to its above mentioned bend line and spaced therefrom, the upper edges of the finger openings being upwardly arcuately curved transversely from end to end of said openings, the portion of the tongue between its two bend lines being transversely fiat and engaging the upper edges of the finger openings only at the outer ends thereof providing a yieldable relation between the portion of the tongue supported by the users fingers within said finger openings and said edges of the finger openings in the panels of the bag.

2. A carry bag comprising front and back panels separated at their upper ends to form an opening for the bag, finger openings in said front and back panels, a closure member extending upwardly from one of said panels and adapted to be folded down over the other of said panels closing said bag opening, a flap member extending downwardly from the other of said panels into the finger opening therein a distance substantially'less than half the height of the finger opening and joined to the upper edge of the opening along a weakened bend line, and a tongue member formed integral with said closure member, hinged thereto along a straight weakened bend line and adapted to be folded through said finger openings after said closure member is folded down, said tongue member having an additional bend line extending parallel to its above men tioned bend line and spaced therefrom a distance approximately equal to the distance between the free edge of said flap member and its bend line,

said fiap member being adapted to bend on itsl bend line and lie with a substantial portion of the flap member substantially in a plane perpendicular to its associated bag panel when said tongue is folded through said finger openings, said weakened bend line of said flap member being upwardly arcuately curved transversely from end to end of said opening, the portion of the tongue between the two bend lines being transversely flat and engaging the upper edges of the finger openings only at. the outer ends thereof providing a yieldable relation between the portion of the tongue supported by the users fingers within said finger openings and said edges of the finger openings in the panel of the bag.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,132,669 Wolf Oct. 11, 1938 2,172,555 Wolf Sept. 12, 1939 2,192,131 Fishwick Feb. 27, 1940 2,234,180 Lackey et a1 Mar. 11, 1941 2,239,856 Poppe Apr. 29, 1941 2,364,886 Wolf Dec. 12, 1944 2,433,867 Ringler Jan. 6, 1948 

